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Q--A limited staff? You say that the hours of duty of a warder at the hospital are from 6 to 6, off from duty for three hours, and he might be called on duty the following day. It is practically twelve hours' duty during the day?
A--One of them is on for nine hours and a quarter.
Q-When is the day man on duty?
He
A-One goes into the hospital at 6.15 a.m., he leaves at 8 o'clock for breakfast, and returns at 9. He leaves again at 11.30 for dinner and returns at 1 p.m. remains until 6 o'clock.
Q-He is practically on duty twelve hours with the exception of his meals ?
A--With the exception of his meals. He then comes in at 9 o'clock and sleeps there for the night and remains until 7 o'clock the next morning when he goes out.
Q-And he might be called all that time?
A-He might be called during the hours after 9 o'clock, and of course if roused he is supposed to turn out at once.
Q-Does it not occur to you that these hours are too long?
A-He has a comparatively light day the next day.
Q-The next day is lighter?
A-The next day is lighter. The officer who left the Gaol at 7 o'clock would come in again at 8. He would remain in till 1 o'clock when he would leave for his dinner. He goes in again at 2.30 in the afternoon and he remains till 4. He then goes off duty until 6.15 the next morning.
Q-And then he begins the same way as before?
A-Yes.
Q-So practically he is on duty from 8 to 4-eight hours-minus the time for meals? A-The actual hours are 9 hours one day and 6 hours the next, and every alternate night he sleeps in the Prison.
Q-These hours are much longer than the hours of duty of the Police?
A-Yes, they are on duty only for six hours; the hours of the warders are always much longer than the Police.
Q-And more monotonous ?
A-Infinitely.
Hon. Commander HASTINGS-But under cover?
WITNESS--Yes, but the work they have to perform is much more irksome. The hours of duty are 9 for the other officers and 8 on alternate days.
Dr. ATKINSON--That is eighteen hours?
WITNESS--In two days 17 hours.
Q-What is the longest period you have known a prisoner remain in the hospital as the result of a flogging?
A-I cannot tell.
Q-Have you known him to remain in the hospital six weeks?
A-I believe they have remained there for so long.
Q-That means that during the whole of that time he does not do any work at all?